28.2.07

DAZZLING DARREN

Darren Morgan has always loved snooker and though he dropped off the professional circuit last year the Welshman is continuing to play as an amateur.

He is currently competing for Wales in the European Team Championships in Ghent and marked his return to action by recording a 140 total clearance in his opening match.

Darren won the 1987 World Amateur Championship and would be among the favourites to win this year's IBSF event if he enters.

It's good to see him extending his career past the professional game. He was a fine player in his day, reaching a career best ranking of eighth and winning the 1996 Irish Masters.

He lost 9-8 on the black to Stephen Hendry in the final a year later but was never invited back.

In fact, Darren wasn't the luckiest player. He couldn't defend his Welsh Professional title in 1993 because it was made into a ranking event; the Pontin's Professional Championship was discontinued after he won it in 2000; the One-Frame Knockout tournament, staged in 1991, was never held again after he won it (with trademark absurdity, the WPBSA made the final a best of three).

Darren famously complained the the boxer Prince Naseem Hamed was putting him off when he sat in the front row at the Crucible.

He was always good fun on the circuit and I'm pleased to see he is still capable of producing high quality snooker.